WANDERERS could be without Declan John for Tuesday night’s game at Lincoln City.

The Welsh full-back picked up a hip problem during the second half of Bolton’s 3-3 draw at AFC Wimbledon, which puts his involvement at Sincil Bank in jeopardy.

Ian Evatt was poised to replace John with George Johnston on Saturday before receiving assurances from the Welshman that he was OK to play on.

But a few minutes later, Evatt felt John’s defending was hampered as Wimbledon forced their way back into the game at 3-2.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Bolton boss said the injury would be assessed.

“He feels like it is his hip flexor, around the hip and the back,” Evatt said. “We don’t really know but we’ll have a look at it and check out how serious the problem is now.”

Wanderers looked in good shape to land their first victory of the season at Plough Lane after goals from Eoin Doyle, Josh Sheehan and Dapo Afolyan put them into a 3-1 lead after the restart.

That they surrendered two points inside 60 manic seconds late in the game was a disappointment to Evatt – but he still felt the performance was an encouraging one.

He said: “I think we are a full tilt team and we play with intensity with and without the ball and the way we attacked and then counter attacked today - their manager said to me ‘wow, what a team you are going forwards’.

“I know we have very good defenders as well, so at the moment we have to learn from our mistakes and balance it out. There are lots of positive signs, I have got to say that.”

Evatt also called for a sense of perspective after the opening two weekends of the League One season, anticipating that there would be a negative reaction to the result at Wimbledon.

“That’s what fans do, don’t they? Everyone has to moan about something, but a sense of perspective, we are three games in, in a new division and a cup game, and we are still unbeaten. Bearing in mind this team, including pre-season, have lost three games since January, I think. We are a hard team to beat.”